Stone Carvings at Wang Youdun’s Tomb

Stone Carvings at Wang Youdun’s Tomb

The stone carvings at Wang Youdun’s Tomb are a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Wang Youdun’s Tomb is situated in Mungan Village, Xikou Town, Xiuning County, Huangshan City, Anhui Province. It faces the Shuishi River to the south and is backed by rolling peaks, surrounded by mountains on all sides. The tomb faces south and covers an area of about 600 square meters, featuring three levels of ceremonial terraces and a spirit way. At the entrance stand a pair of over 7-meter-tall stone-carved ornamental columns. Along the spirit way are displayed stone statues, including a pair each of stone officials (shiweng), stone horses, stone tigers, and stone sheep. The front edge of the tomb’s earthen mound is reinforced with several curved protective stone barriers made of bluish-hued mountain stones, following the contour of the hill, forming a spacious three-tiered ceremonial terrace. The stone statues are exquisitely carved, vividly lifelike, large in size, and made from high-quality materials. The structure and layout of Wang Youdun’s Tomb reflect, to some extent, the burial customs of official families in Huizhou at the time. The tomb has a clear date, with inscriptions on the stone carvings at the front reading “Carved by imperial order in March of the 23rd year of the Qianlong reign,” giving it high historical research value. The tomb stele is large and made of premium materials. The stone carvings on the stele are finely crafted, with vivid and lifelike images, reflecting the exceptional stone carving craftsmanship of the Huizhou region at that time.

On October 7, 2019, the stone carvings at Wang Youdun’s Tomb were included in the eighth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Xikou Town: Located in the southwestern part of Xiuning County, Xikou Town lies upstream of the Shuishi River, covering an area of 220.72 square kilometers. It administers 27 administrative villages and 157 villager groups, with a population of 24,200. It is an industrial hub of Xiuning County, as well as the county’s most populous, expansive mountain town and a commercial center with strong trade and goods aggregation. In 1999, it was designated by Huangshan City as a municipal-level central town and a pilot town for comprehensive small-town reforms.

Xikou boasts abundant natural resources, a rich cultural heritage, and a thriving literary tradition. It is the birthplace of China’s integrated agricultural, scientific, and educational initiatives. The town enjoys a pleasant climate, beautiful landscapes, and numerous historic sites, and possesses cultural relics of significant value... More details about Xikou Town++

Further Reading:

· Eighth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units